Humane Society removes 6 dogs, 4 cats

SANDY LAKE, Pa. -- The Humane Society of Mercer County, armed with a search warrant, has seized six dogs and four cats from a home on state Route 173 just north of the borough. No one was home when society volunteers, a state dog warden and a state constable arrived at the home around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, said Cyndi Sankey, the society's humane agent. She said the animals were found in filthy conditions and had no food or water. Two dead dogs, one of them shot in the head, were found in an outside pen, and a dead kitten was found in a cage inside the house, Sankey said. Some of the animal cages in the house had several inches of feces caking the bottoms of the pens, she said. The property is owned by a woman who also has a residence in Union City, Pa., and charges of animal neglect will be filed against her for each of the animals found, Sankey said. Two of the dogs were found in the house and four were found tied to doghouses outside. All of the five adult dogs had current licenses and rabies tags, Sankey said. Needs money: Sandra Drabick, humane society spokeswoman, said the agency will need financial help to care for and rehabilitate the seized animals. Contributions can be sent to the society at P.O. Box 331, Sharpsville, Pa., 16150.